How long to cure resin prints with UV lights? Resin cure time is usually 15-30 minutes.
Wash And Rinse First
The washing and rinsing action in Isoprophyl Alcohol (IPA) is a key part of the resin cure time process. It is important to not just submerge it. You are trying to dilute and rinse any leftover photopolymer resin off but also dont want to let your print absorb too much IPA. Letting it sit in an IPA bath for long periods of time can lead to cracking and other defects. You will go through a lot of IPA, we started buying IPA by the gallon recently since finding the smaller bottles at local stores is harder with everything going on with COVID.
It is common to see set ups where fresh prints are put into an IPA bath using the basket if using a pickle jar (we use these round pickle jar with basket and this rectangular one with basket for larger pieces) or tongs or a toothbrush to wash off or swirl the piece around for 30-60 seconds. Then usually moved into a clean IPA bath container to rinse off by lifting and lowering in it a couple times. Then transfer to a warm water bath for a final rinse or two.
TIP: The very warm water also helps loosen the supports up for easier removal.
Several printer companies have recently come out with Wash and Cure stations. These are pretty convenient tools to have, however, they are just as much as some of the resin printers.
UV Cure Times – How Long To Cure Resin Prints With UV Lights?
Once that is done let the piece fully dry. Then you want to put it under a UV curing light for a 15-30 minute resin cure time. You just need to let it harden till it passes a finger nail test. Anything longer does not make a difference since the UV light is not going to penetrate deeper over time. Excessive exposure to the UV light can create brittle aspects such as delicate thin weapons and other points/tips.
TIP: Cure until the surface is no longer sticky, and if it never stops being sticky, it’s possible that you should change the brand of resin you’re using.
You can check the resin manufacturer’s site for the recommended cure times they post. Keep in mind that some machines such as SLA machines may need longer cure times but printers like the Photon and Elegoo do not need that long.
If you cannot run through this process at the time the print finishes it is recommended to just leave in the printer and closed up till morning when you can handle the whole process.
Manufacturers Recommendations For Resin Cure Time
There are many resins out there to try and find a fit for your printers. Among the gaming communities for table top miniatures and terrain there are a couple popular resins we cover below. If you would like to know more about either Elegoo Resin or Siraya Tech Resin check out our post on Best Resin For 3D Printing.
Elegoo – No Elegoo Resin Cure Times Provided By Manufacturer
- Once the model is complete, please wash it with a high 95% degree or higher ethanol alcohol for 30 seconds at least.
- If you don’t use the resin please do not leave them in the resin tank for over 48 hours.
- Full Material Safey Data Sheet
Siraya Tech
- We recommend use Ethanol (preferred) or IPA and a painter brush (or any brush made of hair) to remove uncured resins.
- Ultrasonic cleaner is not needed and sometimes not recommended
- Use 390-405nm UV light for post cure
- For hard to cure resins like Blu and Tenacious, submerge in water will speed up curing.
- For Fast and Simple, submerge is not needed.
- Prints should be dried before post curing.
- IMPORTANT: Please Consult The User Guides For Specific Siraya Tech Resin Cure Time Guidelines
- Do not submerge the parts in alcohol for more than 30 seconds. After 2-3 minutes of cleaning action, remove alcohol with a hair dryer or air blower. For complex part with lots cavities, it may be a good idea to clean/dry multiple times.